Pivotable Vehicle Headlight Module with Eccentric Heat Sink Fins

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Solution Overview

Problem

The integration of light modules with heat sinks in motor vehicle headlights is challenging due to the increased volume required for effective heat dissipation, which complicates their mounting and pivoting within the limited space of the headlight housing, especially when dynamic illumination is needed.

Innovation Solution

A light module design featuring a heat dissipation member with a series of fins that decrease in length from the center to the periphery, allowing for efficient heat exchange while minimizing the overall volume, enabling the module to pivot within a reduced space by truncating the fins' length and incorporating bevels at the junctions to avoid hitting the housing walls.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If a heat sink with a heat-dissipating section is incorporated into the LED module to ensure efficient cooling, then heat dissipation performance is improved, but the overall volume of the LED module increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat dissipation performanceVSAvoidvolume of LED module
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The heat sink employs fins of varying lengths rather than uniform fins, creating local quality differences. The fins are longer at the center and shorter at the periphery, optimizing heat dissipation in different zones while reducing the overall volume required for the heat sink structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the geometric parameters of the heat sink fins, specifically varying the fin length as a function of radial distance from the center. This parameter variation allows the heat sink to maintain effective heat dissipation performance while occupying less space compared to traditional uniform fin designs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If the LED module is designed to pivot within the headlight housing to dynamically illuminate different parts of the scene, then adaptability is improved, but the space required for mounting increases due to the heat-dissipating section

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedynamic illumination capabilityVSAvoidspace required for mounting
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The variable-length fin design creates local quality differences in the heat sink structure, with shorter fins at the periphery reducing the mounting space required while maintaining adequate heat dissipation through the longer central fins.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The invention transitions from a two-dimensional uniform fin structure to a three-dimensional variable fin structure, where fin length varies with radial position. This dimensional change allows the heat sink to pivot within a smaller envelope volume while maintaining thermal performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This design reduces the space required for the light module's integration and facilitates its pivoting around multiple axes, allowing for compact and efficient heat dissipation within the headlight housing, thereby enhancing the module's mobility and reducing the headlight's overall size.

Implementation Method 1

a heat sink configured to dissipate heat generated by the light source, the heat sink comprising at least one base arranged to capture heat generated by the light source

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

a dissipation element arranged to dissipate heat captured by the base outside the light module

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat dissipation: Heat Sink

Data Source

PatentEP3438523B1Pivotable luminous module for vehicle headlight
Publication Date: 2024.05.29 VALEO VISION SA
  • EP3438523B1 patent drawingFigure 1~6
  • EP3438523B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3438523B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A light module (1) comprises at least one heat sink (3) configured to dissipate heat generated by a light source, the heat sink comprising at least one base (4) and one dissipation element (12), the dissipation element comprising a series of fins (14) projecting from the base, each fin being defined by a vertex (15) that defines the length of that fin, and by two end edges (16) extending between said vertex and said base. The light module is configured to pivot about two pivot axes (A1, A2), and the series of fins has eccentric fins whose length is less than the length of the fins (14) present at the center of the dissipation element, at least one fin also having at least one bevel (17) at the junction between the vertex (15) and an end edge (16).